- Iran, which claims control over the Strait of Hormuz, has reportedly attacked several ships that tried to bypass its choke point by travelling the waterway via the north coast of Oman.
- Citing maritime data, CNN has reported that Tehran is increasingly losing its grip on the waterway through which nearly one-fifth of global crude and natural gas passes in peacetime.
- Data from maritime vessel-tracking platform MarineTraffic show that at least 95 vessels passed Hormuz last week and 118 in the week before.
- The majority (around 80 per cent) of these vessels transiting Hormuz over the past two weeks used the Omani route, which is a shipping channel authorised by the United Nations that Iran vehemently opposes.
- Last week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that combined oil transits through the strait and rerouted around the waterway totalled around 15 million barrels per day over the course of a week, a lot closer to the 20-million-barrel average from before the war.
- According to the CNN report, the data from the United States, which is keeping an eye on all ships passing through the strait, has reported significantly higher oil shipping numbers than most traditional estimates had previously suggested.
Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz is diminishing, as recent data indicates that approximately 80% of vessels are now using the Omani route, a United Nations-authorized shipping channel. This shift highlights Tehran's waning influence over a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments.5
According to a CNN report, Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analysis at Kpler, stated, "It increasingly looks like Iran has at least partially lost control of the strait." The report noted that last week, 95 vessels passed through Hormuz, with 118 vessels the week prior, indicating a significant volume of maritime traffic.4
The data from MarineTraffic reveals that the majority of these vessels are opting for the Omani route, which Iran opposes. This trend is further supported by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who reported that combined oil transits through the strait and rerouted around it totaled around 15 million barrels per day, approaching pre-war averages of 20 million barrels.6
The implications of this shift are profound, as nearly one-fifth of global crude and natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime. The United States has also been monitoring the situation closely, with reports indicating that all water mines previously planted by Iran have been removed, reducing maritime risks.7
“Data from MarineTraffic indicates that 95 vessels passed through Hormuz last week, with a significant shift towards the Omani route, which Iran opposes. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that combined oil transits through the strait and rerouted around it totalled around 15 million barrels per day, nearing pre-war averages.”
